2021 Kia Telluride vs 2021 Ford Edge

The 2021 Kia Telluride was available in four trim levels: LX, S, EX, and SX, with both front-wheel drive (FWD) and optional all-wheel drive (AWD). Base pricing ranged from $32,190 to $42,490, excluding destination charges. The Telluride S trim offered significant value, but many opted for the top-tier SX trim, which could be enhanced with a Prestige package, transforming it into a luxury SUV. This package added premium stitched Nappa leather, a simulated suede headliner, a head-up display (HUD), and heated and ventilated second-row seats. The Nightfall Edition package, new for 2021, was available with EX and SX trims, adding gloss black 20-inch aluminum wheels and a unique grille insert. Our test vehicle, equipped with the Nightfall Edition, AWD, Prestige package, Towing package, and other accessories, had a sticker price of $50,180, including a $1,170 destination charge.

The 2021 Kia Telluride's styling was a major selling point, with its exterior design receiving widespread praise. The interior, aside from some glossy hard plastic on the lower parts, was a model of contemporary design and quality execution. The transmission shifter, placed to the left side of the center console, preserved storage space and felt solid and smooth in operation. However, the interior color options were limited to black or gray unless one opted for the SX trim. Despite this, the Telluride's overall look and feel were highly regarded.

The 2021 Ford Edge's styling had remained largely unchanged since its 2019 refresh, which successfully integrated the current Ford look with the existing Edge body shell. The Edge Titanium models featured extra chrome accents, while the Edge ST trim had a blacked-out grille, standard 20-inch wheels, and a body kit. The Edge ST-Line offered the same exterior styling as the ST but without the performance upgrades and higher price tag.

The interior of the Edge, however, was starting to show its age. The design had been awkwardly tweaked over the years to accommodate new features like a larger touchscreen. Titanium models came with leather upholstery, while ST models had sporty front seats with added bolstering and a leather-wrapped steering wheel with contrast stitching. Despite these updates, the interior design did not feel as fresh as the exterior.

The 2021 Kia Telluride was technically a crossover, offered with a single powertrain: a 3.8-liter V6 engine paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission, delivering 291 horsepower and 262 lb-ft of torque to the front wheels. Kia's Drive Mode Select technology provided options for Snow, Eco, Comfort, Sport, and Smart driving modes. AWD was optional and included a low-speed Lock function for maximum traction, combined with the SUV's eight inches of ground clearance.

During testing, the Telluride demonstrated impressive off-road capabilities, successfully navigating muddy trails and snowstorms. On regular roads, the Telluride's ride and handling were noteworthy, nearly eliminating the "head-toss" phenomenon. The suspension tuning, featuring a MacPherson strut front and multi-link rear design, along with a self-leveling rear suspension on EX and SX trims, ensured a firm and connected sensation at slower speeds while becoming more compliant at higher speeds. The Telluride's 20-inch wheels and tires provided commendable grip, and the brake-based Torque Vectoring Cornering Control technology contributed to its calm and collected performance on twisty roads. The EPA estimated fuel economy for the AWD Telluride was 21 mpg in combined driving, and our testing loop averaged 20.5 mpg.

The 2021 Ford Edge offered a 2.0-liter turbocharged EcoBoost four-cylinder engine, producing 250 horsepower and 275 lb-ft of torque, paired with an eight-speed automatic transmission. It was available with standard FWD or optional AWD. The Edge ST performance model featured an EcoBoost twin-turbo 2.7-liter V6 engine, delivering 335 hp and 380 lb-ft of torque on 93-octane fuel, with standard AWD and model-specific suspension tuning. An option package added upgraded brakes and 21-inch wheels with summer tires.

The Edge ST, introduced in 2019, aimed to compete with performance SUVs like the Porsche Macan, though the comparison was considered a stretch. The Edge ST was still a decent performer, especially since its competitors did not emphasize performance. The Edge's maximum towing capacities were 3,958 pounds for the base FWD four-cylinder model, 4,122 pounds for the AWD four-cylinder model, and 4,525 pounds for the V6-powered Edge ST. These figures were respectable but fell short of the Honda Passport and Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport, both rated to tow 5,000 pounds with AWD.

The 2021 Kia Telluride excelled in comfort and utility. The SX trim's driver's seat offered 14-way power adjustments, including lumbar support and a thigh support extension, providing an optimal driving position. Both front seats had heating and ventilation, with the front passenger seat offering 8-way power adjustment. The Prestige package's leather upholstery featured a distinctive pattern, and acoustic sound-absorbing glass helped reduce noise.

The test SUV had sliding second-row captain's chairs with heating and ventilation, side-window sunshades, and an overhead climate control panel. The third-row seat was usable by adults, though not as accommodating as the Volkswagen Atlas. The Telluride provided ample storage, including a smartphone bin, door trays, and second-row USB ports and cupholders. The "smart" hands-free power liftgate opened automatically when the key fob was nearby, revealing 21 cubic feet of cargo space behind the third-row seats. Folding the third-row seats down increased cargo space to 46 cubic feet, and the maximum cargo capacity was 87 cubic feet, with buttons in the cargo area to fold the second-row seats.

The 2021 Ford Edge remained competitive in interior space, offering the most rear-seat headroom among two-row midsize crossovers and ample legroom in both rows. Dual-zone automatic climate control was standard. Cargo space was 39.2 cubic feet with the rear seats in place and 73.4 cubic feet with the rear seats folded, trailing only the Honda Passport and Volkswagen Atlas Cross Sport. A foot-activated power liftgate was available on higher trims.

The Edge's rotary shift knob freed up space on the center console, but the narrow console width limited the available space. The raised console provided a storage nook below, but its out-of-the-way location made it difficult to reach and easy to forget items placed there.

The 2021 Kia Telluride came standard with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and SiriusXM satellite radio. The LX and S trims had an 8-inch touchscreen, while the EX and SX trims featured a 10.25-inch screen with a navigation system and other upgrades. Kia's UVO Link Lite connected services plan was free for five years, including a 911 Connect feature. Additional plans were available, offering features like Rear Occupant Alert, remote engine start, and climate control operation, but a WiFi hotspot was not available.

The Telluride allowed pairing of two smartphones to the Bluetooth connection simultaneously, and upper trims offered wireless smartphone charging. The infotainment system was user-friendly, with menu shortcut buttons, stereo knobs, and intuitive touchscreen operation. The voice-recognition system was adequate but not exceptional. The SX trim included a 10-speaker Harman Kardon surround-sound system, though the sound quality was only good, not great.

Driver Talk, standard on EX and SX trims, amplified the driver's voice through the stereo speakers, while Quiet Mode limited stereo volume to the front speakers. The Prestige package added a head-up display with blind-spot notifications.

The 2021 Ford Edge featured Ford's latest Sync 4 infotainment system, with standard wireless Apple CarPlay/Android Auto and a 12-inch touchscreen. Bluetooth, SiriusXM with 360L satellite radio, and a built-in 4G LTE WiFi hotspot were standard. The Edge ST models included a 12-speaker Bang & Olufsen audio system. The Edge had four USB ports, including two rear USB ports added for 2021.

Sync 4's simple graphics and straightforward menu layouts were user-friendly, and the wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity were notable features not offered by all competitors.

The 2021 Kia Telluride came standard with the Drive Wise collection of advanced driving assistance systems, including blind-spot warning, lane-keeping assistance, forward-collision warning with pedestrian and cyclist detection, rear cross-traffic alert, a driver-monitoring system, and automatic emergency braking. EX and SX trims included Highway Drive Assist, combining adaptive cruise control with lane-centering assistance for Level 2 semi-autonomous driving. Additional safety features included Rear Occupant Alert and Safe Exit Assist.

The SX trim added front parking sensors, a surround-view camera system, and a Blind-Spot View Monitor. The 2021 Telluride earned a Top Safety Pick rating from the IIHS, though this may not continue for 2021 due to Poor-rated headlights. The NHTSA gave the Telluride a five-star overall rating, with four-star frontal-impact results for the driver and front passenger.

The 2021 Ford Edge was an IIHS Top Safety Pick, scoring top ratings in all crash tests and front crash prevention tech in vehicle-to-vehicle situations. It received lower ratings for vehicle-to-pedestrian front crash prevention, LATCH child-seat anchor ease of use, and headlight performance. The NHTSA awarded the Edge a five-star overall rating, with five stars in frontal and side crash tests and four stars in rollover tests.

The Edge's standard safety features under the Ford Co-Pilot360 banner included automatic high beams, blind-spot monitoring, lane-keep assist, forward-collision warning, automatic emergency braking with pedestrian detection, post-collision braking, dynamic brake support, and rear parking sensors. Adaptive cruise control with stop-and-go and lane centering, along with Evasive Steering Assist, was standard on all but the base SE trim.